Nearly every homeowner and renter has the basic resources to handle minor plumbing emergencies. Sometimes, all it takes to get a blocked toilet or drain unclogged is a bit of elbow grease and a plunger. You can usually fix small repairs around the house if you are handy, such as replacing a drain cover or changing a worn washer.
However, larger plumbing repair jobs require professional attention. It is possible to cause more problems by trying to fix common problems like slow drains and leaking toilets.
Plumbing maintenance
Regular maintenance is one way to avoid costly repairs to your home. A thorough inspection of your plumbing is key to catching problems early, before they become serious.
Hidden leaks in the sink drains and below water heaters can be more than a nuisance. They can also cause structural damage over time. Mold growth can be caused by water seeping into plaster or sheetrock. When wet, porous tile and wood flooring can warp or discolor.
Routine DIY Maintenance Tasks
Do-it-yourself projects are possible for many regular maintenance tasks. A maintenance program is only complete if it includes an inspection. Even though you may be using your bathtubs and sinks every day, you may not notice any minor problems if you don’t schedule time to inspect them. Take a look at the plumbing in your house.
Check for moisture in all pipes exposed, including those under sinks or encouraging bathrooms tanks. Some condensation can occur on cold metal pipes during humid days. If the home is cooler, check for dampness.
Check for signs of corrosion on brass and copper fittings. Corrosion is more rapid in damp metal so corroded connections could indicate a gradual leak.
To monitor water pressure, switch water faucets in showers, sinks, and showers. Although there may be slight differences between faucet types and their purposes, all of them must have steady water flow.
After you inspect the faucet, observe how quickly the water drains. Slow drains could indicate a blockage. As you go about your business, flush the toilets to ensure they aren’t running or leaking at their base. This could indicate a defective wax seal.
Professional Inspections
A Long Beach plumber can inspect your home and provide you with more information about the plumbing and drains. The inspector will inspect the water heater, garbage disposal, and all areas of your home’s plumbing systems. Remote video inspections of plumbing, lead testing, and filter system inspections are possible.
Make an appointment
After thorough inspection, clean and remove aerators from faucets and shower-heads. Sediment may build up and cause slow water flow. Your plumber will handle this and other steps for you if you choose to have professional plumbing maintenance. A licensed plumber can also perform the following maintenance tasks:
- Drain treatment to increase flow rate
- Water heaters and garbage disposals should be cleaned
- Hairline leaks can be detected by stress testing
- Adjustment and assessment of water pressure
- Common Plumbing Repair Jobs
Even the most thorough plumbing inspection will not find any blockages or leaks, especially in older homes. High water tables in Long Beach, CA can also lead to septic system issues that can impact toilets and drains. These common problems have many solutions.
Dripping Faucets
You’ve probably experienced the frustration of a constantly leaking faucet, or tried to fall asleep while it spewed water into your bedroom. Your water bill will go up if your faucet leaks. One faucet can send thousands of gallons per year down your drains, one fall at a.m.
The plumbing pressure is enough to force water into your home. Rubber or silicone-based washers that are made of rubber form a watertight seal to prevent additional water from entering the plumbing.
Washers can become stiffer, torn, or dislodged over time. This allows water to trickle down and creates that annoying drip. Although you can replace washers yourself without any special tools, it can be more difficult than you might think. If the leak persists for a long time, the valve seat could have become worn or corroded. This requires a more complex repair that should be done by a professional plumber.
Some sinks do not have washers that can stop water from flowing. Ceramic taps (also known as disc or canister taps) are made of durable ceramic plates that attach together to form a seal. Ceramic taps require less maintenance than rubber washers but the process of repairing them is more difficult than replacing a washer. A ceramic disc or canister faucet is recommended for you if you have a lever-operated bathtub or sink instead of one that has separate knobs.
Low water pressure
Low water pressure is when water does not gush but just drips from the tap. Low water pressure may not be due to your plumbing but the municipal water supply. Although it is uncommon, a break in the main line can temporarily lower your water pressure. This problem can be caused by a buildup of sediment or residue on faucet aerators.
Dissolved minerals are found in water that enters your plumbing system and eventually settle on metal surfaces. These minerals are removed by a filtration system. If there is no such method, the residue will be filtered out and re-filtered. Without such a system, mineral deposits can build up on the interior of shower heads and aerators, slowing down flow and clogging screens.
Many kitchen faucets can be easily cleaned by removing the aerators from the faucet’s tip.
The calcium residue found in Long Beach’s water supplies can be removed by taking the aerator off and soaking it in vinegar overnight. You may need to remove bathroom faucets and shower heads, but it is possible to attach a plastic bag with vinegar to the head of the shower to clean it.
Low water pressure may be a sign of a more complex problem. Leakage or cracking of pipes that lead to your home can cause serious damage to your foundation or infrastructure. A sudden and substantial drop in water pressure without any known cause is a sign that you should call a licensed plumber to determine the root cause.
Running Toilet
You may have had enough of trying to get your toilet to behave after flushing. It might be time to replace the internal parts. Toilets usually fail when the flapper valve, which allows water to flow from the tank into its bowl, is not fitted properly, the fill tube is loose or the float is out of balance. Most models of toilets can be repaired with a simple kit that is easy to install.
Toilets sometimes run for more complex reasons. You may have sediment affecting flushing and filling if you have already replaced the flapper and float apparatus. A silent leak could also be indicated by higher water bills.
Add a few drops food coloring to the top tank. Wait 15 to 20 minutes until you find a leaky bathroom. If you see any color in the bowl, it is possible that your flapper valve has stopped working.
Leaky Pipes
Leaks can cause serious problems, whether you find a puddle under a pipe or discover a surprise beneath your sink. Joint leaks are common and can be costly. This is why you will find plenty of commercial joint fillers at your local hardware store. These products can be used temporarily, but a permanent repair might require the replacement of a length or fitting.
While replacing a U-joint that is leaky under your sink is not a difficult job, it can be messy. To save time and effort, you might want to hire a professional to handle the job. Use a compression clamp, a rubber sheet, or leak tape to stop water from getting into your home. These temporary fixes prevent water spraying, but can be easily removed when it is time to find a permanent solution.
Slow Drainage or Blockage
If the water from your sink, toilet, or tub doesn’t drain, it is likely that you have a partial or complete clog. Your handy plunger will often fix the problem. Although plungers can remove a blockage using air pressure, they are not able to completely eliminate the problem.
Although they are safe for most drains, commercial drain cleaners and drain clog eliminators can cause damage to some pipes if they are used too often. It is time to contact a Long Beach plumber if you have clogs every day.
Even if there isn’t a large clog, it can block drainage and cause a trickle. Try shining a flashlight in the drain to see if the problem is obvious. You may be able reach the problem with a pair of pliers, tweezers, or a pair of scissors. Drain displays are a great way to prevent debris from getting into your drains.
Do-It-Yourself Plumbing Repair Tips
Turn off the main water supply before you start any repairs. Don’t be surprised if you get wet. Plumbing maintenance and repair can be messy, even if you are careful. Plumbing, washers, and other fittings are all subject to the same rule of thumb as carpentry. To ensure that you are purchasing the correct item, you should take the parts you need to replace to the hardware store whenever possible.
Keep the number of a Long Beach plumber handy. Although you may not need the number, it will come in handy if you have to open a valve or turn on a geyser in your kitchen.
Long Beach Plumbers: When should you call?
Some problems are too difficult or dangerous to be tackled alone. For the following tasks, you should hire a Bradenton plumber to ensure your safety and your home’s ethics:
- New plumbing, sinks and tubs are installed
- Water heater problems
- Construction of new construction is possible
- Leakage from a septic tank
- Leakage or breakage of sewer lines